Vault roof



Sept. 21, 1965 w. J. SILBERKUHL ETAL 3,207,054

VAULT ROOF Filed July 21, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4

WILHELM JOHANNES SILBERKUHL UWE KASTL ERNST HAEUSSLER INVENTORS BY )4? M AGENT p 21, 1955 w. J. SILBERKUHL ETAL 3,207,054

VAULT ROOF Filed July 21, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILHELM JOHANNES SILBERKUHL UWE KASTL E R N S T HAEUSSLER INVENTORS AGENT P 21, 1965 w. J. SILBERKUHL ETAL 3,207,054

VAULT ROOF 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 21, 1961 FIG/IO WlLHELM JOHANNES SILBERKUHL UWE KASTL ERNST HAEUSSLER INVENTORS BY K M AGENT P 1965 w. J. SILBERKUHL ETAL 3,207,054

VAULT ROOF 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 21. 1961 25 FIG.'I4

WI LHELM JOHA NNES SIL BER KUHL UWE KASTL ERNST HAEUSSLER INVENTOR.

AGENT United States Patent 3,207,054 VAULT ROOF Wilhelm Johannes Silherkuhl, Uwe Kastl, and Ernst Haeussler, all of Moorenstrasse 24, Essen, Germany Filed July '21, 1961, Ser. No. 133,754 6 Claims. (Cl. 98-31) Our present invention relates to roof construction and, more particularly, to a vault-type or barrel roof for factory buildings, airplane hangars and the like.

In various common-1y assigned applications, including Ser. Nos. 715,750 filed Feb. 17, 1958, now abandoned, 796,818 filed Mar. 3, 1959, now abandoned, and 846,611 tiled Oct. 15, 1959, now abandoned, are disclosed construotion elements in the form of shells of prestressed concrete corresponding to or approximately one-sheet hyperboloids particularly well suited for use in roofs of the type indicated above. The last-mentioned application also shows how such elements can be placed side-by-side and rigidly bonded to one another to form a barrel-roof structure whose width equals the longitudinal dimension of each individual shell, the latter thus extending transversely to the principal dimension of the roof. That application also teaches the conversion of such shells into ducts, e.g. for the purpose of passing a heating or cooling fluid therethrough, by covering their upwardly facing concavities with slabs of concrete forming a solid unit therewith.

The principal object of our present invention is to provide a roof structure of the general type just described which retains the advantages of light weight and high stress resistance inherent in our earlier disclosures but can be produced more economically, especially in the case of roofs of great length.

Another object of this invention is to provide means in such structure for joining together a series of precast concrete elements while substantially eliminating torsional and other stresses that may arise, e.g. from temperature differences, upon a rigid interconnection of such elements in a unit of considerable longitudinal extent.

A further object of our invention is to provide a structure of this character which is of simple construction, mechanically stable and of esthetically pleasing appearance.

The foregoing objects, and others that will subsequently appear, are realized in accordance with our invention by the positioning of a series of trough-shaped, preferably hyperboloidal concrete shells side by side on suitable parallel supports for the ends of these shells, such as special piers or the longitudinal building walls, with substantial mutual separation, and by the spanning of the intervening 0 spaces with connecting plates which are inherently flexible and/ or united with the adjacent shells by flexible joints so that these shells may expand and contract independently, e.g. in response to changing temperatures, which is particularly important in those cases where some or all of these shells are to be used as ducts for heating and/or air-conditioning purposes.

The connecting plates will generally have a thickness which is small compared with the depth of the troughshaped shell members on which they are supported. They may be fashioned from asbestos cement, fiberboard sheets or equivalent synthetic materials of low thermal conductivity where good heat insulation is required; they could, however, also be made of other materials (e.g. metals) with a suitable heat-insulating lining attached thereto. particularly advantageous type of connecting plate for this purpose, from the viewpoint of mechanical stability and easy accommodation to the curvature of an upwardly cambered elongated supporting member, is a corrugated sheet having its corrugations extending in transverse direction of the adjoining members and, therefore, in axial direction of the barrel roof.

We have found that a roof structure so designed does not require any external reinforcements even where additional loads are to be carried thereby, e.g. rails for overhead transporters and other suspended equipment.

The troughs of the shells so interconnected may in turn be overlain by cover plates generally similar to the connecting plates and adapted to form ducts for the circulation of air and other fluids; the ends of the troughs may be closed up in like manner. Inlets and outlets for the circulating fluid may be provided in the shells themselves and/or in their cover and end plates. In the case of intense solar radiation an effective cooling action may be realized by irrigating a flow of warm air, rising from the interior of the building through apertures in the trough bottom and escaping into the atmosphere at the crest of the cover plate, with the aid of a water spray injected at suitable locations into the duct.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building provided with a roof structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, drawn to a larger scale, of one of the shell members included in the structure of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines IIIIII and =IVIV, respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a corrugated sheet used as a connecting plate in the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the roof of FIG. 1, drawn to a larger scale and taken in longitudinal section along the crests of the shells and the connecting plates thereof;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, generally similar to FIG. 2, of one of the connecting plates;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken on the lines VIII-VIII and IX-IX, respectively, of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing a modified roof structure provided with cover plates overlying the troughs of the shells;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the shells of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are fragmentary cross-sectional views of diflerent joints between shells and connecting plates therefor;

FIG. 14 is a view, partly in section, taken on the line XIVXIV of FIG. 13; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views similar to FIG. 5 but showing further modifications of connecting plates.

FIG. 1 shows a building representative of various structures adapted to be provided with a barrel or vault roof according to our invention. The building comprises a pair of longitudinal walls 1 (only one being visible) which are arcuately recessed at spaced locations 3 along their upper edges to accommodate a series of transverse shell members 2 spanning the walls 1 with a mutual separation of the order of their own width. The spaces between the shells 2 are over-lain by upwardly cambered connecting plates 4 matching the curvature of the upwardly convex lateral edges 5 of the shells.

The shells 2, as best seen in FIGS. 2 to 4, are precast concrete members in the shape of one-sheet hyperboloids internally provided with prestressing cables 28 extending diagonally, under tension, within the concrete layer thereof along straight-line generatrices of the hyperboloid. They are upwardly convex along their lateral edges 5, dc. in transverse direction of the roof, and upwardly concave in the dimension of their width, thus in the direction of the roof axis. This saddle shape, as pointed out in the copending applications referred to, renders such members particularly stable against deformation in both dimensions and eliminates the need for edge beams and other external reinforcements conventionally employed in precast construction elements. The shells 2 thus act as upwardly cambered simple beams which span, at spaced locations, the walls 1 to which they are rigidly bonded.

The connecting plates 4, as best seen in FIG. 5, are corrugated sheets whose ribs extend transversely of their principal dimensions, i.e. from one shell 2 to the next; they can therefore be readily bent to follow the curvature of the lateral shell edges on which they may be supported with the air of preferably flexible strips 6, e.g. of synthetic plastic material, adhesively bonded to both the shell 2 and the plate 4. Advantageously, the levels of adjacent edges 5 and/ or the height of the corresponding strips 6 may differ slightly so that the plates 4, cut to a somewhat trapezoidal shape so as to have their shorter edges properly aligned with the tops of walls 1, will slope transversely as illustrated in FIG. 6, thereby enabling rain water to run off their corrugation into the troughs of shells 4 and thence into gutters (not shown) alongside the roof. The plates 4 may be wholly or partially lined with heat-insulating layers 12, as also shown in FIG. 6, if their inherent thermal conductivity is too high for the type of roof desired.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, the shells 2a (which are of substantially the same hyperboloidal configuration and construction as the members 2 of the preceding embodiment) are overlain by cambered cover plates 7 which may be of the same type of sheet material as the connecting plates 4 and, like the latter, have been shown corrugated though their corrugations run longitudinally of the shells and thus transversely to the axis of the barrel roof. Thermally insulating linings 11 may be provided on all or part of their undersides if needed. The plates 7, with or without such linings, are conveniently supported on ledges 19 of flexible (e.g. plastic) strips 6a cemented onto the lateral edges 5a of shells 2a and may be adhesively secured to these ledges; the plates 4 have been shown in FIG. as mechanically secured, in addition to cementing if desired, to the complementary corrugated surfaces of strips 6a by means of bolts 17, washers 18 and screws 31, cf. FIG. 11.

The ducts formed between shells 2a and cover plates 7 may be closed at their ends by segmental plates 35, e.g. of asbestos cement. They may be provided with inlets and outlets for a circulating fluid, such as one or more entrance ports 8 (FIGS. 8 and 10) at the bottom of the shell and an exit opening 9 at the crest of the cover 7 (FIGS. 7 and 9); the latter opening may be shielded against precipitation by a cap 30. This construction has the effect of allowing warm air to rise from the interior of the building through the ports 8 and to escape into the atmosphere through opening 9 and a registering aperture 29 in layer 11, the duct thus acting as a chimney. Sprinklers 13 with nozzles 14 may be installed in the duct to irrigate the air flow with sprays of cold water; the runoff may be collected in drains 16 while the entrance ports 8 are in such case preferably traversed by upwardly projecting air-inlet tubes (e.g. clay pipes) to prevent the leakage of sprinkler water through the roof. Forced-circulation means, such as a blower 32 connected to the pipes 15 as shown at the left in FIG. 9, may be employed to accelerate the flow of air or other fluids as symbolized by arrow 10, e.g. heating or cooling media, through the duct.

It will be noted that the edges of connecting plates 4 extend above the adjacent edges of cover plates 7, thereby not only helping keep the latter in place but also facilitating the runolf of rain water toward the gutters by the corrugations of the cover plates; the leakproofness of the roof is thereby increased.

Solid or hollow members other than corrugated sheets may be used for the plates 4 and/ or 7. In FIG. 12, for example, We show a doubly curved hollow plate structure 4a hinged to an adjoining shell member 2]) by means of hooks 21 engaging wire loops 20 which project from the shell at spaced locations along its lateral edge. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a similar but flat plate 4b which is cemented to a resilient layer 25, the latter being similarly bonded to an arcuate Wooden pedestal 34 overlying and cemented to a wooden ring segment 22. Lugs 26 are fastened by screws 27 to the ring segment 22 at peripherally spaced locations and are secured to the shell 21: by screws 33. A similar arrangement may be provided wherein, however, the elements 22, 34. 25 are replaced by a single elastic strip, e.g. of rubber.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate alternate forms of cover plates 4c, 4d which may be used in lieu of plates 4b in the assemblies of FIGS. 13 and 14. Plates 4c and 4d are downwardly open to accommodate utility pipes 24, adapted to conduct gas, water or electric current, for example, or similar objects to be suspended from the ceiling.

We claim:

1. In a building having a pair of parallel walls, the combination therewith of a roof structure supported on said walls, each of said walls having a roof-supporting upper edge composed of alternating straight and upwardly concave curved sections, said roof structure comprising a plurality of trough-shaped generally parallel and spacedapart concrete shells supported at their ends on said curved sections of said walls and arching from the supported ends upwardly, said roof structure further comprising a plurality of corrugated connecting plates supported on said straight sections of said walls and on the upwardly arched lateral edges of the adjacent shells bridged by said plates, each plate having a substantially cylindrical curvature conforming to that of the lateral edges of said adjacent shells and being provided with transverse corrugations substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, fastening means interconnecting said shells and said plates at their adjoining lateral edges in stresstransmitting relationship but with freedom of limited relative vertical displacement, and spacing means sealingly interposed between said adjoining edge-s, said fastening means including flexible strips forming part of said spacing means.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes connecting bolts rising from the lateral edges of said shells and passing through said strips into engagement with the lateral edges of said plates overlying said strips.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said spacing means are of different height at opposite lateral edges of a plate whereby the latter is transversely inclined for discharging rain water from its sloping corrugations onto an adjacent shell and thence over the sides of said walls.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said shells is provided with a cover plate spanning the concave side of the shell and forming therewith a duct, said cover plate being substantially cylindrically curved in conformity with the arched lateral shell edges on which the cover plate is supported, said cover plate having corrugations extending substantially parallel to said lateral edges.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said flexible strips are formed with ledges carrying said cover plate, the latter being partly overlain by adjacent connecting plates projecting laterally above said ledges.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said cover plate is provided with a vent opening into the atmosphere, further comprising an air inlet passing through the shell into said duct and blower means at said inlet for forcing air from the interior of the building 5 through said duct outwardly by Way of said vent.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/45 Blaski 50-61 2/ 48 Blaski 5 0-61 5/5 1 Schwarzmayr 62-314 4/5 5 Atkins 50-61 11/57 Hermann 50-61 9/58 Harry 50-201 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/52 Germany.

5/ 57 Italy.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, HENRY C. SUTHERLAND,

Examiners. 

1. IN A BUILDING HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL WALLS, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A ROOF STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON SAID WALLS, EACH OF SAID WALLS HAVING A ROOF-SUPPORTING UPPER EDGE COMPOSED OF ALTERNATING STRAIGHT AND UPWARDLY CONCAVE CURVED SECTIONS, SAID ROOF STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF TROUGH-SHAPED GENERALLY PARALLEL AND SPACEDAPART CONCRETE SHELLS SUPPORTED AT THEIR ENDS ON SAID CURVED SECTIONS OF SAID WALLS AND ARCHING FROM THE SUPPORTED ENDS UPWARDLY, SAID ROOF STRUCTURE FURTHER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CORRUGATED CONNECTING PLATES SUPPORTED ON SAID STRAIGHT SECTTIONS OF SAID WALLS AND ON THE UPWRDLY ARCHED LATERAL EDGES OF THE ADJACENT SHELLS BRIDGED BY SAID PLATES, EACH PLATE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL CURVATURE CONFORMING TO THAT OF THE LATERAL EDGES OF SAID ADJACENT SHELLS AND BEING PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSE CORRUGATIONS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE CYLINDER AXIS, FASTENING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SHELLS AND SAID PLATES AT THEIR ADJOINING LATERAL EDGES IN STRESSTRANSMITTING RELATIONSHIP BUT WITH FREEDOM OF LIMITED RELATIVE VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT, AND SPACING MEANS SEALINGLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID ADJOINING EDGES, SAID FASTENING MEANS INCLUDING FLEXIBLE STRIPS FORMING PART OF SAID SPACING MEANS. 